Grieving Mom Can’t Believe What She Found On Dead Son’s Phone

It’s never easy being a teenager in high school. Aside from peer pressure, there’s the obvious task of graduating with your diploma and making your family proud. One thing that has been plaguing school across the country is bullying, and one student’s constant brush with it led to heartbreak for his mother.

10. A Heart Of Gold

At the age of 16, Daniel Briggs, who attended Thousand Islands Central School in Clayton, New York, was one of the most helpful people in his neighborhood. When his next door neighbor was diagnosed with cancer, the boy made it his duty to have bedside chats with him until his death.

9. I’m Not Like Everybody Else

While Daniel was in high school, he had different aspirations and hobbies than his classmates. Instead of playing basketball or football, he was more into hunting and trapping, which is something most kids his age aren’t familiar with.

Because of these differences, Daniel was forced to go through some tough time in school.

8. High School Blues

Daniel was picked on by various classmates in numerous ways, including having trash thrown at him, being forced to lick a bus window, and physical abuse. When Daniel texted one of the abusers to ask why they keep harassing him, he got a text that read, “‘Cause you’re a p**sy, and you need to get your a** kicked.”

7. War Of Words

During a very heated back and forth text conversation with Daniel, the abuser showed no sympathy whatsoever when he said, “Why don’t you take one of your precious guns and do the world a favor and go kill yourself?”

What Daniel said to his wrongdoer next was absolutely unexpected.

6. Unintended Consequences

With so much sadness inside of him, Daniel texted, “You won’t have to worry about me anymore, I’m going to go home and kill myself.” The abuser replied with, “Put up or shut up.” He didn’t keep this a secret, either. The following day at school, he told all of his classmates that he was going to kill himself, and none of them did anything to stop him.

5. One Last Goodbye

The last person Daniel texted was his hunting friend Matt. Upon hearing what his friend was about to do, Matt attempted to keep Daniel on the phone for a long time while his sister tried to relay the message to Daniel’s mom Amy in hopes she’d stop him in time.

4. Final Words Heard

When she finally got the message of Daniel’s actions, his mom quickly asked the neighbor to check on him. While opening the door, the neighbor shouted out, “We love you, Daniel,” hoping that he’d hear it before he went through with the plan.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

3. Tragedy At Home

Seconds after her yell, Daniel pulled the trigger and took his own life. Amy rushed into his room to witness what no mother should ever see. His brother was in complete shock. Days after his death, many people sent their condolences and shared memories of someone that only wanted to take care of others.

2. The Aftermath

Weeks after his death, Daniel’s room remained untouched; his schoolbooks still laid on the floor. While his dream of becoming a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer has been taken away, his mother hopes that Daniel’s kindness inspired them to do go to same for others.

Amy also wants people to learn from this tragedy.

1. Words From A Broken Mother

Amy joined forces with non-profit organization Champion of Choices to speak about the tragedy. In a video posted online, Amy states, “When you know there is someone being bullied. Don’t be a bystander. You are just as guilty as the bullies when you stand by and do nothing.”

Over 4,000 children commit suicide yearly due to being bullied in school. If anyone with suicidal feelings is frightened at speaking to their parents about it, they can always speak to a counselor at school, an adult they trust, or call up the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you know someone going through a rough time, reach out and let them know you care.

What did you think of the article? Have you ever been bullied in high school? Did you ever stand up for those being bullied? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to share this article with your friends and family!